How to Fix a Broken Tooth: Emergency Steps, Repair Options, and Complete Recovery Guide

You’re crunching ice or biting into something hard when—crack. That sickening feeling hits instantly. Maybe you see a chip in the mirror, or your tongue keeps finding a sharp edge where smooth enamel used to be. Whatever just happened, your tooth is damaged, and that familiar panic starts creeping in: How bad is this? What do I do right now? Can it be fixed?

The good news is that most broken teeth can be repaired, especially if you act quickly. The type of treatment depends on what broke, where it broke, and how deeply the damage goes. Let’s walk through exactly what you need to know, starting with those critical first moments.

Understanding Broken Teeth: Types and Severity Levels

What Causes a Tooth to Break?

Teeth are remarkably strong, but they’re not indestructible. Physical trauma—from sports injuries, falls, or car accidents—can crack or break even healthy teeth. But plenty of breaks happen during ordinary moments. You bite down on an olive pit you didn’t see, crunch too enthusiastically on ice, or discover the hard way that popcorn kernels don’t always pop.

What makes teeth vulnerable goes beyond obvious accidents, though. If you’ve got tooth decay eating away at your tooth enamel, you’re basically working with a compromised structure. Old, large fillings leave less natural tooth to support the pressure of chewing. And if you grind or clench your teeth at night (maybe you don’t even realize you do it), you’re slowly wearing down that protective enamel layer.

• Grinding or clenching teeth wears down enamel over time, weakening the entire tooth structure
• Large fillings from years ago can leave so little natural tooth that one wrong bite causes a break
• Temperature swings—like hot coffee followed by ice water—stress enamel through expansion and contraction
• Age naturally weakens teeth as enamel thins and becomes more brittle
• Face-first contact with dashboards, pavement, or elbows during sports

How Do Dentists Classify Broken Teeth?

Not all breaks are created equal. A tiny chip off the edge of a front tooth is annoying but rarely painful. These minor chips affect only the outermost enamel layer. Craze lines—those superficial hairline cracks you might notice in good lighting—usually don’t hurt at all and mainly need watching rather than immediate treatment.

Things get more serious when the break goes deeper into the dentin layer underneath the enamel. You’ll probably feel sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods. The most urgent breaks expose the pulp chamber at the tooth’s center, where nerves and blood vessels live. That’s when you get real pain, often accompanied by bleeding. Your dentist looks at how deep the break goes, where it’s located, and whether nerves are involved before deciding on treatment.

Can You Tell How Severe Your Break Is at Home?

You can make some educated guesses, though you’ll still need professional confirmation. Look in the mirror—if you see a pink or reddish area inside the tooth, that’s exposed pulp, and you need to get to a dentist today. Pay attention to pain levels too. Sharp, shooting pain when air hits the tooth or when you drink something cold suggests deeper damage than a superficial chip.

Run your tongue gently over the area (emphasis on gently—no poking with dirty fingers). Can you feel how much tooth is missing? Does it feel like a small rough spot, or is a significant chunk gone? If the tooth looks noticeably shorter than it used to, or you spot dark areas inside when you look closely, these point toward serious damage. But here’s the thing: even “minor-looking” breaks can hide deeper cracks that only X-rays reveal, so get it checked within 24 hours regardless of your home assessment.

Immediate First Aid: What to Do When You Break a Tooth

How Should You Clean the Area After Breaking a Tooth?

First things first: rinse your mouth with warm water. Not hot, not ice cold—warm. You want to wash away any tooth fragments and blood without shocking already traumatized tissue. Keep it gentle. Aggressive swishing can dislodge blood clots that are trying to form, or cause more bleeding. If there are loose pieces in your mouth, carefully remove them with clean hands.

Did you find the broken piece? If it’s a decent-sized chunk, rinse it gently and drop it in a small container with milk or saline solution. In some cases, your dentist might be able to reattach it. Seems unlikely, maybe, but it’s worth preserving just in case. Until you get professional help, keep rinsing with warm salt water every few hours to keep the area clean and discourage bacterial growth.

What’s the Best Way to Stop Bleeding from a Broken Tooth?

Bleeding from a broken tooth can be alarming, especially if the break is deep enough to hit blood vessels. Grab some clean gauze or a damp tea bag (tea contains tannins that help with clotting) and press it firmly against the area. Not so hard you’re causing pain, but firm enough to apply real pressure. Hold it there for 10-15 minutes without peeking to see if it’s working—constant pressure is what helps clots form.

• Keep your head elevated above your heart to slow blood flow to the area
• Resist the urge to rinse or spit forcefully for at least an hour after the injury
• If blood soaks through the gauze after 15 minutes, add fresh gauze on top and continue pressure
• If bleeding doesn’t stop after 20 minutes of steady pressure, call your dentist or head to urgent care

How Do You Reduce Swelling and Manage Pain?

Get a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a thin towel and hold it against your cheek near the broken tooth. Ten minutes on, ten minutes off. This constricts blood vessels, brings down swelling, and numbs the area enough to take the edge off. Over-the-counter ibuprofen works well for both pain and inflammation—just follow the dosage on the bottle.

Skip the aspirin if you’re still bleeding, though. Aspirin thins your blood, which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to get a clot to form. When you lie down, prop your head up with an extra pillow. And as much as your tongue wants to explore the damage (it’s almost impossible not to), try to leave it alone. The more you mess with it, the more it’ll hurt and the higher your risk of introducing bacteria.

Temporary Protection: Using Dental Wax for Broken Tooth Relief

What Is Dental Wax and How Does It Help?

Dental wax is basically a soft, moldable material that creates a protective barrier over sharp tooth edges. If you’ve ever had braces, you might remember using it on brackets that rubbed your cheeks raw. Same concept here. A broken tooth often leaves jagged edges that cut your tongue, the inside of your cheek, or your lips every time you talk or eat. Dental wax smooths those edges over temporarily.

You can pick it up at most drugstores in the dental aisle. It also helps reduce sensitivity by covering exposed areas. Just understand that this is a stopgap measure, not a fix. The wax will wear off when you eat or drink, and it definitely doesn’t replace actual dental treatment. But it’ll make the hours (or days) until your appointment much more bearable.

How Do You Apply Dental Wax to a Broken Tooth?

Start by drying the broken tooth as thoroughly as you can with clean gauze. Moisture makes the wax slip right off instead of sticking. Tear off a piece about the size of a small pea and warm it between your fingers for 10-15 seconds until it’s soft and pliable. The warmth from your fingers makes it easier to mold.

Press the softened wax firmly over the sharp edge, shaping it so it creates a smooth surface. You want it to cover all the pointy bits and extend just slightly past the damaged area. When you close your mouth, the wax should feel comfortable—not like you’re biting on a wad of gum. You’ll probably need to reapply it several times a day, especially after meals, but it beats having a shredded tongue.

What Other Temporary Solutions Can Protect Your Mouth?

If you can’t get dental wax immediately, sugar-free gum works in a pinch. Chew it just long enough to soften it, then carefully place it over the sharp edge. Avoid regular sugary gum—the last thing a damaged tooth needs is a sugar bath that feeds bacteria. Over-the-counter temporary dental cement is another option that can cover exposed areas for up to 48 hours, though it’s slightly trickier to apply correctly.

• Clove oil (applied around the tooth, not directly on it) provides natural numbing pain relief
• Avoid chewing on the affected side until you get professional help
• Stick to soft foods at room temperature—nothing too hot, cold, hard, or sticky
• If even temporary solutions aren’t helping and you’re in serious pain, don’t wait for a regular appointment

When Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?

What Symptoms Require Immediate Emergency Care?

Some broken teeth can wait until tomorrow for treatment. Others can’t. If you’ve got heavy bleeding that won’t stop after 15-20 minutes of solid pressure, you need emergency care now. Same goes for pain that’s so severe over-the-counter medication doesn’t even touch it—that usually means the nerve is exposed or damaged, and waiting will only make things worse.

Can you see pink or red tissue inside the broken tooth? That’s exposed pulp, and it’s extremely vulnerable to infection. Get help today if possible. A tooth broken at or below the gum line is another urgent situation because there might not be enough structure left to save it—the sooner a dentist evaluates it, the better your chances. And if you develop facial swelling, run a fever, or have trouble swallowing after breaking a tooth, these are red flags for infection that needs immediate treatment.

How Quickly Should You See a Dentist for a Broken Tooth?

Even if your broken tooth doesn’t scream “emergency,” you still want to see a dentist within 24 hours. What looks like a minor chip on the surface might hide a deeper crack that’s only visible on X-rays. The longer you wait, the more time bacteria have to enter the break and cause problems. Plus, sharp edges can cause soft tissue damage that compounds the original injury.

Most dental offices keep some appointment slots open for emergencies and can usually fit you in quickly, even if you’re not a regular patient. If the break happens on a Friday night or over the weekend, call your dentist’s emergency line—most practices have one. For truly severe cases with uncontrolled bleeding or intense pain, and you can’t reach a dentist, hospital emergency rooms can at least stabilize the situation and manage pain until you can see a dentist.

What Happens If You Delay Treatment?

Here’s the thing about broken teeth: they don’t get better on their own. They get worse. Bacteria love nothing more than an exposed, damaged tooth. They move right in, multiply happily, and before long you’ve got an infection that’s spread to surrounding teeth and bone. What might have been a simple bonding job becomes a root canal and crown situation. Or worse, an extraction.

The tooth continues to weaken the longer it’s damaged. Small cracks propagate into bigger ones. Sharp edges slice up your mouth repeatedly, creating painful sores that make eating and talking miserable. You might develop chronic sensitivity or pain that never quite goes away. And if you lose the tooth entirely without replacing it, adjacent teeth start drifting into the empty space, creating bite problems that can require orthodontic work to fix. None of this is meant to terrify you, but delays have real consequences.

Broken Tooth Repair Options: Finding the Right Solution

What Is Dental Bonding for Minor Chips?

For small chips and cracks, dental bonding is often the quickest, most affordable fix. Your dentist applies a tooth-colored composite resin to the damaged area and sculpts it to match your tooth’s natural shape. Think of it like a high-tech, permanent filling. The resin bonds directly to your tooth structure and hardens under a special UV light within seconds.

The whole thing usually takes 30-60 minutes per tooth, and you won’t need anesthesia unless the break is close to the nerve. The bonded area blends in so well that most people can’t tell you had work done. With decent care—meaning you don’t use that tooth as a bottle opener—dental bonding typically lasts 3-10 years before needing touch-ups or replacement. Not bad for an afternoon at the dentist.

When Does a Bonded Tooth Break and Need Replacement?

Bonding material is strong but not invincible. If you subject it to the same forces that broke your tooth in the first place—chomping on ice, using your teeth to tear open packages, another accidental impact—it can chip or break. The composite resin is durable, sure, but it’s still not as hard as natural enamel. Hard foods like nuts or candy can damage it if you’re not careful.

• Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking can stain the bonding material over time, making it stand out
• The bond naturally weakens as years pass, typically needing replacement every 5-10 years
• If the tooth wasn’t properly prepared or moisture got in during application, the bond might fail prematurely
• Regular dental checkups help catch wear and tear before the bonding completely fails

How Do Dental Crowns Fix Broken Teeth?

When a tooth has moderate to severe damage, a dental crown provides more comprehensive protection than bonding can offer. A crown is basically a custom-made cap that fits over your entire tooth, restoring its shape, size, and strength. Your dentist starts by removing any damaged portions and reshaping what’s left to support the crown.

After taking impressions (or digital scans), a dental lab crafts your crown from porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination. You’ll get a temporary crown to wear while the permanent one is being made—usually takes about two weeks. At your second appointment, off comes the temporary, on goes the permanent crown, cemented into place. Crowns generally last 10-15 years, sometimes longer if you take good care of them and don’t test their limits with ice cubes and peanut brittle.

What Role Do Veneers Play in Broken Tooth Repair?

Veneers work best for front teeth with minor to moderate damage that haven’t compromised the tooth’s structural integrity. Think of a veneer as a thin shell of porcelain or composite that covers the front surface of your tooth. It conceals chips, cracks, and discoloration while preserving most of your natural tooth structure underneath.

Your dentist removes a very thin layer of enamel from the front of your tooth—just enough to accommodate the veneer’s thickness without making the tooth look bulky. After impressions, a lab creates custom veneers that match your desired shade and shape. The veneers bond permanently to your tooth surface, giving you a natural-looking result that typically lasts 10-15 years. They’re popular for visible teeth where appearance matters most.

Dealing with a Broken Molar Tooth: Special Considerations

Why Are Broken Molars More Complicated to Repair?

Molars take a beating. These back teeth handle the heavy work of chewing, sometimes enduring forces exceeding 200 pounds per square inch. Any repair has to withstand that constant punishment while keeping your bite properly aligned. That’s not easy. The location doesn’t help either—molars are harder to see and reach, making treatment more technically challenging.

Many molars already have large fillings from previous cavities, which weakens the remaining tooth structure and makes them more prone to serious breaks. When a molar breaks, the damage often extends below the gum line or affects multiple cusps (those pointy parts on top). You can’t just slap a bit of bonding on there and call it done. These teeth need more substantial restoration than front teeth typically do.

What Treatment Options Work Best for Broken Molars?

Crowns are usually the go-to solution for broken molars because they provide the strength needed to handle chewing forces. For back teeth where aesthetics matter less than durability, porcelain-fused-to-metal or full metal crowns offer maximum toughness. If the break has exposed or damaged the nerve, you’ll need root canal therapy first to remove infected tissue and seal the tooth interior before the crown goes on.

For large cuspal fractures (when a corner or bump breaks off), an onlay might work—it’s like a partial crown that covers one or more cusps while preserving healthy tooth structure. Sometimes the break extends so far below the gum line that your dentist needs to perform crown lengthening surgery, removing a small amount of gum and bone tissue to expose enough tooth for crown retention. Your dentist evaluates the fracture pattern, what’s left of the tooth, and your bite forces to figure out the best approach.

Can a Severely Broken Molar Be Saved?

Modern dentistry can save many severely damaged molars, but some breaks are beyond repair. If there’s adequate tooth structure remaining above the bone and gum line, your dentist can usually build up the tooth for crown placement. But vertical root fractures—cracks that run lengthwise through the root—are basically death sentences for teeth. There’s no reliable way to fix them.

How much healthy tooth structure remains matters more than the break’s size. Your dentist also considers root length, bone support, and how critical that particular tooth is to your bite. Sometimes extraction followed by implant placement gives you a better long-term result than trying to save a severely compromised tooth that’ll probably fail within a few years anyway. It’s not the answer anyone wants to hear, but occasionally it’s the most practical one.

Broken Wisdom Tooth: Should You Repair or Remove It?

What Causes Wisdom Teeth to Break?

Wisdom teeth break for the same reasons other teeth do, but their location makes them especially vulnerable. These third molars emerge in your late teens or early twenties, often when there’s not enough room left in your jaw. Many wisdom teeth grow in at odd angles or only partially erupt, leaving part of the tooth hidden under gum tissue. That makes them incredibly difficult to clean properly, and decay tends to develop unnoticed.

The hard-to-reach location means brushing and flossing often miss these teeth entirely. Cavities form, weaken the tooth structure, and eventually the tooth breaks from normal chewing pressure. Impacted wisdom teeth—ones that never fully emerge—sometimes develop cysts or decay beneath the gum line. Even fully erupted wisdom teeth in the far back corners of your mouth are tough to maintain, making damage more likely and harder to catch early.

Is It Better to Repair or Extract a Broken Wisdom Tooth?

Unless your wisdom tooth is fully functional, properly positioned, and easy to keep clean, most dentists recommend extraction over repair. If the tooth functions normally in your bite and you can maintain good hygiene around it, repair makes sense—treat it like any other molar. But partially erupted, impacted, or difficult-to-clean wisdom teeth serve little purpose beyond causing problems. Extraction prevents future headaches.

• Removing problematic wisdom teeth eliminates the risk of recurring decay in areas you can barely reach
• Extraction prevents wisdom teeth from damaging adjacent second molars through pressure or decay spread
• Pulling a troublesome wisdom tooth costs less than root canal plus crown, and saves future problems
• Recovery from wisdom tooth extraction is usually straightforward, even in your 30s or 40s

What Are the Risks of Leaving a Broken Wisdom Tooth Untreated?

Ignoring a broken wisdom tooth invites trouble. Infection spreads easily from these hard-to-clean areas to surrounding teeth, bone, and soft tissues. The jagged edges continuously cut your cheek, creating painful ulcers that make eating and speaking miserable. Food particles and bacteria accumulate in the damaged tooth, causing chronic bad breath and a foul taste that won’t go away no matter how much you brush.

An untreated broken wisdom tooth can damage your adjacent second molar—the one you actually need for chewing—through decay spread or pressure-related problems. The infection might progress to an abscess that requires emergency treatment. In rare but serious cases, infections from wisdom teeth spread to deeper spaces in your face and neck, becoming life-threatening conditions that require hospitalization. Not to be dramatic, but wisdom tooth problems can escalate fast when ignored.

When Broken Tooth Extraction Is Necessary

What Situations Require Tooth Extraction?

Extraction becomes necessary when saving the tooth isn’t feasible or practical. Breaks extending deep below the gum line often leave insufficient structure for any restoration to attach to. Vertical root fractures running lengthwise through the root can’t be repaired reliably—extraction is usually the only option. Severe decay accompanying the break might have compromised so much tooth structure that there’s simply not enough healthy tooth left to restore.

Advanced gum disease can loosen teeth to the point where repair doesn’t make sense. Sometimes extraction is just the most practical solution when you factor in cost, your overall health, treatment complexity, or the tooth’s long-term prognosis. If a tooth will probably fail within a few years even with expensive treatment, extraction and replacement might give you a better outcome for your money and time.

How Does the Extraction Procedure Work?

Your dentist starts by numbing the tooth, surrounding gum tissue, and bone with local anesthesia. You’ll feel pressure but not pain. For severely broken teeth, the procedure might involve sectioning the tooth into smaller pieces that are easier to remove individually. Specialized instruments called elevators rock and loosen the tooth in its socket before forceps grasp and remove it.

Sometimes the dentist needs to remove small amounts of bone or gum tissue to access teeth broken below the gum line. After extraction, your socket gets cleaned thoroughly and may be packed with gauze to control bleeding. Some situations require a few stitches to close the gum tissue over the extraction site. The whole procedure usually takes 20-40 minutes, though complicated cases might need more time. It’s less awful than it sounds, honestly.

What Is Recovery Like After a Broken Tooth Extraction?

Recovery is usually straightforward if you follow post-op instructions. The gum tissue heals in 1-2 weeks, while complete bone healing takes 3-6 months. Expect some discomfort, swelling, and minor bleeding during the first 24-48 hours. Bite down firmly on gauze pads for 30-45 minutes right after extraction to help a blood clot form in the socket.

This part is crucial: don’t disturb that blood clot. No vigorous rinsing, no drinking through straws, no smoking for at least 72 hours. If you dislodge the clot, you’ll develop a painful condition called dry socket that delays healing. Use ice packs on your cheek for the first day to keep swelling down, then switch to warm compresses. Stick to soft foods initially—think mashed potatoes, yogurt, smoothies—and work your way back to normal eating as comfort allows.

Tooth Broken with Root Still in Gums: Complex Cases

What Happens When the Root Remains After a Break?

Sometimes the visible part of a tooth snaps off at or below the gum line, leaving the root structure embedded in your jawbone. This happens most often with teeth weakened by large fillings, previous root canal treatment, or extensive decay. The crown portion breaks away cleanly while the roots stay anchored in the bone—not exactly a good situation.

That remaining root can cause problems even though you can’t see any tooth above the gum. Bacteria easily enter the exposed root area, leading to infection and potential abscess formation. Your gums might swell around the site, and you’ll probably experience ongoing discomfort. The root needs to be removed to prevent complications and prepare the area for future tooth replacement if you choose that route.

How Do Dentists Remove Tooth Roots from the Gums?

Removing a tooth root requires surgical extraction, which is more involved than pulling a regular tooth. Your dentist makes an incision in your gum tissue to expose the underlying bone and root structure. Sometimes small amounts of bone need to be removed to fully access the root, especially if it has broken into multiple pieces that need individual extraction.

The dentist uses specialized instruments to carefully elevate and remove the root from its socket. If the root has fractured into several fragments, each piece must be located and extracted to prevent future infection. After thoroughly cleaning the socket, the gum tissue gets repositioned and stitched closed. This procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes and heals over 2-3 weeks, though complete bone regeneration takes several months.

Can You Get an Implant If the Root Is Still Present?

Your dentist must remove any remaining root structure before placing a dental implant. A natural root and an artificial implant can’t both occupy the same space in your jawbone—that’s just physics. After root extraction, your bone needs time to heal and fill in the socket before implant placement becomes possible.

The typical waiting period between extraction and implant placement runs 3-6 months, giving bone time to heal and remodel completely. In some cases, your dentist might place an implant immediately at the time of extraction if there’s adequate bone and no infection present. Your dentist evaluates bone quality, infection status, and your overall oral health to determine the right timeline for implant treatment. Patience pays off here—rushing the process increases failure risk.

Broken Tooth Replacement: Restoring Your Smile

What Are Your Options for Replacing a Broken Tooth?

When a broken tooth can’t be saved, you’ve got several replacement options to consider. Dental implants come closest to replicating natural teeth, with a titanium post anchored in your jawbone supporting a custom crown on top. Dental bridges span the gap by connecting crowns on adjacent teeth with a replacement tooth in between—a fixed solution that doesn’t require surgery.

Removable partial dentures replace one or several teeth using a metal or plastic framework that clasps onto your remaining natural teeth. This is usually the most economical option when multiple teeth need replacement. Some people choose not to replace missing back teeth at all, though this can lead to bite problems, bone loss, and shifting of adjacent teeth over time. Generally not recommended unless there’s a compelling reason.

How Do Dental Implants Work for Broken Tooth Replacement?

Dental implants replace both the root and crown portions of your missing tooth through a multi-step process. First, your dentist surgically places a titanium implant post into your jawbone where the tooth used to be. Over the next 3-6 months, the implant fuses with your bone through a process called osseointegration—basically, the bone grows around and integrates with the titanium post, creating rock-solid stability.

After the implant fully integrates, your dentist attaches an abutment (a connector piece) to the implant post. Then a custom crown gets fabricated to match your natural teeth and secured to the abutment. The completed implant functions just like a natural tooth—you can bite into apples, chew steak, brush and floss normally. With proper care, the implant itself can last a lifetime, though the crown might need replacement every 10-15 years.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Bridges vs. Implants?

Bridges offer faster treatment—typically just 2-3 weeks from start to finish compared to several months for implants. The cost is generally lower upfront, and no surgery is involved, which appeals to people with dental anxiety or certain health conditions. However, bridges require altering adjacent healthy teeth to serve as anchors, potentially weakening them and making them more vulnerable to future problems.

• Implants preserve adjacent teeth by standing independently without needing support from neighbors
• Implants stimulate jawbone like natural tooth roots, preventing the bone loss that occurs with bridges
• Bridges typically need replacement every 10-15 years, while implants can last decades or even a lifetime
• Implants cost more initially but often prove more economical long-term when you factor in replacements
• Bridges make more sense when adjacent teeth already need crowns anyway

How Long Do Different Replacement Options Last?

Dental implants boast the longest lifespan of any tooth replacement option, with success rates exceeding 95% over 10 years. The titanium post itself can genuinely last your entire life with proper care, though the crown on top might need replacement every 10-15 years due to normal wear and tear. Dental bridges generally last 10-15 years before requiring replacement or repair—not bad, but not lifetime either.

Removable partial dentures typically need adjustment or replacement every 5-8 years as your gums and bone gradually change shape. The longevity of any restoration depends heavily on your habits—excellent oral hygiene, regular dental visits, and avoiding behaviors that stress restorations (like ice chewing or using teeth as tools) dramatically extend their lifespan. Take care of your dental work and it’ll take care of you.

Cost Guide: How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Broken Tooth?

What Factors Affect Broken Tooth Repair Costs?

Several factors influence what you’ll ultimately pay to fix your broken tooth. The severity and location of the break matter significantly—front teeth generally cost less to repair than molars because they’re easier to access and face less chewing stress. The treatment type required drives cost more than anything else. A simple bonding job runs far less than a crown or implant.

Geographic location plays a surprisingly big role. Dental costs in major metropolitan areas run considerably higher than in rural areas or smaller cities. Your dentist’s experience and practice overhead affect fees too. If you need additional procedures like root canal therapy, gum surgery, or bone grafting on top of the basic repair, those stack up fast. And of course, insurance coverage (or lack thereof) dramatically affects your out-of-pocket expenses.

What Is the Average Cost for Each Treatment Type?

Dental bonding for minor chips typically runs $100-$300 per tooth, making it the most budget-friendly repair option. Porcelain veneers cost considerably more, usually $800-$2,500 per tooth depending on the material and lab work involved. Dental crowns fall in the $800-$1,500 range for basic crowns, though premium materials like all-ceramic or zirconia can push costs higher.